Welcome to a slightly different looking weekly email! There are many Havurah Happenings coming up. We'd love to see you at these events.
Please feel free to stop by my office and say hello! You can also send any questions or concerns to brad@havurahshalom.org. I'm looking forward to meeting you all!
All the best,
Brad Pector
Communications and Membership Coordinator
503-248-4662 ext. 4
This Week
Support Lift Up Portland Tomorrow! Thursday, August 22nd, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm, Montgomery Park 2701 NW Vaughn
Support Lift Urban Portland feeds low-income neighbors in northwest and downtown Portland. This annual fundraiser features treats by Elephants and Baker & Spice, silent and live auctions, and entertainment. Get to know more about an organization that Havurah supports and that provided more than 100,000 meals last year. Casual dress. Easy parking. Good cause. Tickets are $65. Find out more at www.lifturbanportland.org.
Upcoming Community Minyan Saturday, August 24th, 10:00 am
This Saturday's leaders and leyners include Roger Brewer, Ken Lerner, Harriet Cooke, Tivona Reith, Becky Chiao, Barbara Slader, Sam Sirkin, and Marty Brown. In this week’s Torah portion, Ekev, Moses tells the Israelites that if they obey God’s commandments, the nations across the Jordan won’t harm them and the land will overflow with milk and honey. The Israelites also learn that they will need to dispossess the people there so they won't be tempted to turn away from God.
Special Kiddush Lunch After Community Minyan Saturday, August 24th, 12:15 pm
Dick Mastbrook is hosting a special kiddush lunch at Havurah to celebrate his 90th birthday! Please come celebrate with us after services. This event has no cost.
RSVP: arleenslive@gmail.com
Book Group: The Way to Spring Tuesday, Aug. 27th, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine - Ben Ehrenreich, a novelist and writer for publications such as the New York Times Magazine and Harpers, lived in a West Bank village and documented its struggle against the Occupation. For this remarkable work of journalism, he received the National Magazine Award. Discussion led by David Newman at Havurah.
Inside Havurah
Celebrate 40 Years of Havurah Shabbat School with Us
Let’s hear and see your reflections! On November 23rd, 4:00 pm, we will look back and marvel on 40 years of our unique and amazing family cooperative Jewish education model, while envisioning our future. Will you share some reflections, recollections, photos, memories of the Shabbat School experience for you, your children, your family? Deborah and Brad (Havurah’s new Communications and Membership Coordinator) will create a short film for our celebration. You can find out more by clicking here.
Add Your Voice to the High Holidays!
Havurahniks, we invite you to add your voice to our prayer and celebration at High Holidays this year by submitting a “mini-drash” or kavanah to be included in our services. These short reflections or sharing of life experience, 2-3 minutes long, can be either in response to this year’s theme “Hineinu” or connected to the annual themes of teshuvah (returning / renewal / repentance) or forgiveness. The writing can be your own, or it can be a reading that expresses something true for you.
Send to rachel.pollak@havurahshalom.org with the subject line “Mini-drash 2019”.
Join Us for Dorot Shabbat Friday, September 6th, 6:00 pm Service, 6:45 Potluck Dinner
Please join us for a casual, family-friendly, and music-filled service. Beginning with candle lighting, Kiddush and challah, the service continues with prayers and music, followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner. RSVP here by Sept 4th.
Kabbalat Shabbat Is Quickly Approaching! Friday, September 13th, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Join us for a catered vegetarian dinner on September 13th at 6:30 pm, followed by a short, musical service at 7:30 pm. RSVP for the dinner by Sunday, September 8th. For cost adjustments, call 503-248-4662 ext. 2. No RSVP is required for the service portion. Childcare is provided.
Learn About the Upcoming Global Climate Strikes! Saturday, Sept 14th, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Havurah
The Havurah Climate Action Team invites you to attend an informational event about the Sept 20th & 27th Global Climate Strikes. We will hear from student climate activists, the Sunrise Movement, and other organizers about the upcoming strikes. This is a great opportunity to learn more and get questions answered. The strikes will be huge, international events focusing on the Climate Emergency and the lack of action to address the biggest crisis facing humanity. Students, parents, and others will strike from school and work to attend protests.
Hashiveinu: Musical and Spiritual Preparation for the Days of Returning Thursdays, Sept. 12th, 19th, 26th, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Havurah
We will interweave singing High Holiday melodies with reflecting upon and discussing the themes and meaning of this sacred time. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you consider yourself a singer. Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin and others. RSVP here.
RSVP for Rabbi’s Contemplative Practice and Walk in the Forest Sunday, September 15th, 7:00 am, Lower Macleay Park
We will gather in Lower Macleay Park in the early morning, beginning with some chanting then walking mindfully along the trail. In the midst of this month of Elul, we will access teachings and intentions from the tradition to direct us toward teshuvah, the returning and renewal of this season. This will be a very short hike at a gentle pace. We will conclude by 8:30 am. Contact Rabbi Benjamin with questions. Click here to RSVP by Sept. 8th.
Have a Question About Havurah?
The Transparency and Inclusivity Committee welcomes your questions! We will find the answer and publish the question (but not the questioner) and answer in an upcoming Hakol. It is our intention at Havurah that what you know and understand about our congregation should not be a function of who you know. If you find yourself wondering about something related to Havurah, or if someone shares their question with you, we hope you will send your question to transparency@havurahshalom.org.
In June's Hakol, the question dealt with the issue of Havurah's growth. Our current co-presidents were interviewed to provide an answer.
Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday each week.
Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, diverse, participatory Jewish community steeped in Jewish values promoting spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.
(IP) B'nei Mitzvah Cohort Wednesday, Nov 12th 6:30p to 8:30p Youths being called to the Torah will build community and ask, “What does being Jewish and becoming bar, bat, or b’nei mitzvah mean to me?” Led by Rabbi Benjamin.
Identity Construction Zone - Being Jewish/Being a Teenager Wednesday, Nov 12th 7:15p to 8:30p November 12, 7:15 – 8: 30 pm - Identity Construction Zone - Being Jewish/Being a Teenager
What are our questions, our strengths, and our gaps in parenting as our youth are, of course, in prime time for exploring/challenging/confronting different parts of their identities? We will focus on where being Jewish fits in for our teens and how to support them in a time in which being Jewish is very complicated.
Gate Installation Thursday, Nov 13th (All day) When work is done today, the gate will lock when closed and can be opened using a code, the same way the main entry works. We will email members letting them know what the code will be to ensure continuous access. Questions? Please email rachel@havurahshalom.org.
(HYB) Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration Friday, Nov 14th 5:45p to 8:00p A musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly dessert and hearty nosh before and after. All are welcome! 5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 Service, 7:30 Oneg. Free childcare is provided. Those joining on Zoom, please come at 6:30; the in-person hearty nosh portion and oneg will not be televised. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org.
(HYB) Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learners' Minyan Shabbat, Nov 15th 10:30a to 12:00p This upbeat, interactive service especially for Grades 5-7 focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service.
(HYB) Chanukah: Not Just For Kids Anymore Sunday, Nov 16th 10:30a to 12:00p We all think of kids, gelt and dreidels when we think of Chanukah. But in reality, is Chanukah just a kids holyday? Join us as we discover the ways in which Chanukah is a holyday for adults! Emily Simon will lead us as we study sections of the Book of Macabees and other Chanukah-related texts. We will learn things about Chanukah that Hebrew school did not teach us. All are welcome. Please RSVP below. Our class will include participants from a variety of congregations around Oregon, Washington and the USA. Facilitated by Emily Simon with assistance by David Dropkin. Please note that the start date for this class has been changed to Nov. 2.
